Replacing the cooling fan and bits.

Grumps

Grumps

Always happy, apart from when I'm not 🤬
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Points
226
Location
Forest Town, Mansfield
Model of Z
Z4 e85 2.5i
After our early exit today I need to replace certain items on my cooling system. The fan is completely shot and also the expansion tank pipe which looks like it may have been the culprit for the fan damage. Speaking with pingu off .net who popped in to say hello, @GazHyde, and @mid life crisis it was suggested to go with an oem replacement at around £50 from Sopers. Looking online I can get a bilstein one for £20. Am I wasting my money? I'm also replacing the water pump, belt and an item that @Antm72 has very kindly offered to me as he has it sat on his shelf gathering dust. (Can't remember for the life if me what it bloody is tho!) Thanks mate I'll be in touch. Not being overly mechanically minded is there any further advice on things while it's stripped out? I'll be talking to the owner of zed shed midlands Ltd about doing the job for me :DOoh I've been told today it also needs disks and pads! :arghh::arghh:
 
The bit Antm72 referred to is the viscous coupling which the fan blades bolt on to, and in turn bolts on to the end of the water pump. It looks like below.
upload_2016-4-24_20-18-34.webp


As I mentioned my experience with pattern part fan blades was one which exploded in to a million pieces in less than a thousand miles of use.

If you haven't changed the water pump already, definitely worthwhile doing. 80k is a good recommended interval.

Don't forget to add that worn hose on to the list as well.
 
Thats the part i have for you @Grumpy as said its virtually new. I removed thinking it may be bad but the new one is identical so its not so .:thumbsup:
 
stephano033 said:
Good to meet you today grumpy you def dont live up.to your name :)
May ask z shed midlands for assistance in seat bush replacement :D
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Always a pleasure to meet new faces, if you haven't sorted any out yet Ian on the forum sells them Steve.
 
GazHyde said:
The bit Antm72 referred to is the viscous coupling which the fan blades bolt on to, and in turn bolts on to the end of the water pump. It looks like below.
View attachment 30825

As I mentioned my experience with pattern part fan blades was one which exploded in to a million pieces in less than a thousand miles of use.

If you haven't changed the water pump already, definitely worthwhile doing. 80k is a good recommended interval.

Don't forget to add that worn hose on to the list as well.
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Thanks Gaz, yep I'd remembered the hose, what's the big belt called as I'd like to do that at the same time?
 
Antm72 said:
Thats the part i have for you @Grumpy as said its virtually new. I removed thinking it may be bad but the new one is identical so its not so .:thumbsup:
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Thanks Ant it's very generous of you to donate it. Pm sent.
 
Grumpy said:
Thanks Gaz, yep I'd remembered the hose, what's the big belt called as I'd like to do that at the same time?
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Serpentine belt Dave.
Tensioner pulley should be checked as well.
 
The belts can go by different names depending on who you speak to, but drive belt, serpentine belt or auxiliary belt covers it. I don't think you have air con, so its only the one belt you need.
 
GazHyde said:
The belts can go by different names depending on who you speak to, but drive belt, serpentine belt or auxiliary belt covers it. I don't think you have air con, so its only the one belt you need.
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No, no air con Gaz.
 
Priced the parts up online. Fan, aux belt, tensioner pulley and water pump about £100 so not to bad and I suppose it'll be peace of mind for the Dutch limborit. Just need to get the expansion pipe sorted now.
 
GazHyde said:
Ooh, have we mentioned the thermostat yet? Should add that to the list as well. Sorry I forgot it!
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And the stat housing...ask me how I know...I've done all these bits piecemeal over the years (some twice like the water pump and fan blades) best do it all at once!

Just becareful when handling the fan and fitting it - I had a brand new OEM one which also lost blades quite quickly and one theory was that the blades were bent when fitting or in storage which weakened them. There was nothing to get in their way, just started dropping blades after a few months..

If you doing the viscous coupling (clutch) itself then beware it must be stored the right way way up as shown on the box or else the fluid doesn't sit right and then it doesn't work.
 
OK just to firm things up I'm ordering the bits today, so I need:

Cooling fan
Viscous coupling (sorted thanks to Ant)
Thermostat
Water pump
Aux belt
Expansion tank pipe.

Is that everything? Thanks for everyones help.
Grumps.
 
Please check you engine mounts, I read on the tinternet that this can be the cause of such problems as the engine is allowed to move more than it is designed to do therefore the fan bladed hit the cowling etc.
 
That's a good point Brian :thumbsup:. Hopefully it's just straight forward fatigue on the blades, but you never know.

I did have a look for obvious fan blade strikes on the radiator, but they seemed to be randomly located as what usually happens when the blades start pinging off in every direction.
 
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